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Silicate coolant

dandreye

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Accord 2L MT (CL7)
Hi All,

Does anyone happen to know if Halfords' Antifreeze and Summer Coolant shown in the picture attached is OK for a 1999 Accord?
Antifreeze.jpg


Halfords have 2 different ones these days: blue one with silicate and red one (slightly more expensive) w/o it. I've come across somewhere that a compatible coolant has to be free of that silicate but mine says nothing about its presence.

Many thanks in advance!
 
Couldn't say for sure but just go to your local dealer and get a 5 litre bottle of Honda Type 2. Just ask for coolant and that's what you get. Pre-mixed and perfect for the car. Cheap enough too and saves all the bother of worrying about compatibility.
 
MedicalFlyer:

Thanks for your reply. Just checked it on Ebay and somewhat surprised with "do not add water" statement. Wondering why... Halfords ones even have instructions how much water to add for protection down to certain temperatures, due to which they're a twice cheaper solution.
 
No, only use Honda Type 2 coolant. It's cheap and lasts a long time too.
 
dandreye said:
MedicalFlyer:

Thanks for your reply. Just checked it on Ebay and somewhat surprised with "do not add water" statement. Wondering why... Halfords ones even have instructions how much water to add for protection down to certain temperatures, due to which they're a twice cheaper solution.
There's no need to add water as it's pre-mixed. Just drain the old stuff, flush it through if you're able to and then add away. Be sure to fill the reservoir too (easier if it's out the vehicle to see the markings).
I think I paid about £15 for mine when I did it. For that price it's not worth worrying about trying to find cheaper alternatives.
 
exec:


MedicalFlyer:

Thanks for your replies. £15 is not bad indeed - I was just hoping to use up my old Halfords coolant leftovers before considering genuine Honda coolant option. Is the latter one known to cause any particular issues in Honda cooling systems? I always buy Honda stuff where the difference is critical, e.g. Honda MTF for the (manual) gearbox, just want to know what exactly is likely to happen with my cooling system otherwise.
 
It's a case of your mileage may vary. My dad had his radiator replaced about 18 months ago and it was refilled with whatever the garage deemed suitable (local chain). It's been fine ever since. As for my car I've no idea what was in it before I had it changed. Again there were no issues but I changed it while I was having the water pump done just for my own peace of mind more than anything. I'm pretty fussy about what goes in or near my car though. Chances are what's currently in yours isn't the Honda stuff unless you made sure it was last time it was changed (or had it done by Honda).
There are scare stories around and about of certain coolants playing foul in the systems. But this can be said for pretty much any car and often is a result of user error. The worst thing to do is mix different types, constantly topping up with water, using too much of things like the Prestone universal top-up, and additives/sealants can also play silly beggers with things.
The main thing is when changing just try to flush things through if you can to ensure the waterways are clear and ensure what ever goes in is correctly diluted and filled to the right level.

Really it comes down to what you're happy to use and how you use the car. The various formulas out there can greatly vary from product to product. The Honda stuff just takes away any element of uncertainty as it's the same coolant used in pretty much all of their cars.
 
Providing you still have OEM cooling parts, e.g. radiator, there are various aluminum parts in place, Honda coolant has the right additives inside for example to protect against corrosion.
 
The rad is now Nissens 68117 since mid-Septermber but it has identical design (aluminium/plastic). Looks like putting in premixed Honda Type 2 coolant w/o its further dilution to inhibit corrosion is my best option indeed: apparently I overlooked the risk of more corrosion because of a higher % of water. I must have made a mistake by filling in the system with water for testing purposes upon rad change (was just unsure there are no other leaks elsewhere besides old rad) and not swapping it for a proper coolant sooner - hope nothing got killed during this rather short timeframe.
 
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